Siegfried sank onto the window ledge, closing his eyes.

“Because princes aren't supposed to need saving. And princesses aren't supposed to save themselves. I failed you already, so many times before...”

Rue gasped. Then there was a short, sharp thwack and his cheek was burning. He jerked upright, a hand covering his face reflexively. His eyes met the princess' and his brow furrowed at the anger he saw shining in the bold red.

“How dare you?” She demanded, striding forward until she stood over him. She cupped his face in both hands, but he couldn't help noticing how one was decidedly more gentle than the other, even hesitant on one side. She sucked in a breath, but did not seem inclined to stop there. Instead, with her firm hand, she forced him to continue meeting her gaze.

“You insult me and you insult yourself. I... I love you, and because of you, I'm starting to learn... That maybe I am worth loving, too.” She took a deep breath. “You needed to be saved, and I was able to save you, even if I caused the trouble in the first place. Do you understand what that means to me?”

“Tell me,” he whispered. An inkling came to his mind, but not enough, and somehow he needed to hear her words.

“It means that I was capable of more than destroying what I cared about.”

He nodded slowly. “I'm sorry... I...”

“Hush. I'm not done. You saved me, too. Not because you were supposed to, but because you wanted to. Or have you forgotten that?”

He stared up at her, lips parting in shock before he can manage to speak. “No, I have not. But it seemed irrelevant. Because... even if I wanted to, it was also what I should have done.”

Her mouth twisted, and a sigh escaped her. “You saved me, despite everything I had done, not just to you. I was chosen as a villain in the story. Perhaps... perhaps just a pawn.”

She hesitated now, as if her speech had gotten away from her and she was just becoming aware of what she was saying.

“...But you saved me, even knowing that. A happy ending for me would have been being allowed to live, and you did so much more than that. You took me out of the Raven's darkness, just like I did for you. Neither of us could have been free without the other.”

“Yes.” He nodded, reaching an arm up to wrap around her carefully. When she didn't pull away, he added,“You are right, and I am sorry for what I said.”

“And I forgive you, as you have forgiven me. And I am sorry for... for striking. I just couldn't...” She took another long breath. “These are the choices we make, Siegfried.”

She was finally smiling again, though it was small. He returned her expression tenderly.

“I love you. Thank you...” He tilted his head upward. “Will you kiss me?”

“Hmm, I don't know... Do you deserve it?”

His smile took on a sheepish tinge. “Likely not. But if you might be charitable...”

She laughed, and swept a hand through his hair. “Only for you.”